If you caught the first part of our summer road trip with ford // here // you’ll know that we had a delightful few days down in Martha’s Vineyard this past August. We spent time exploring the island, enjoying some good food and getting Bruce into the ocean while having delightful balcony picnics // here // . After leaving the island we drove back to Canada in the Ford Flex, but not back home. I dropped Dan off to visit family before heading down to Toronto to visit with my own.
*Ford Canada sponsored this post, but all thoughts are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make PMQ for two possible.
This part of the road trip had been already planned, so I was all the more glad to have it after my brother’s passing and our initial time in Toronto. Coming back to the city – and all the emotions – after a few days away had given me time to clear my head, compose myself, and head back to the city and with a fresh sense of self.
All of the cats currently in my parents’ home were glad to see me, and Eman’s cat – Toby – was even a little more friendly. He had been understandably traumatized by the events that led to him coming to live with my parents, so we were all overcome with emotion when decided to start human contact with my father.
I helped my parents clean and empty my brother’s apartment. We made many runs around town dropping off bottles to be returned, furniture to new places where it could be better used, bringing his clothing home, and then of course that final trip to the apartment for the last look before we hand back the keys and say goodbye to that chapter of his life.
The Flex was instrumental in making that an easy process. We managed to fit everything we needed into it with no hassle and still had room for the passengers.
last summer on his balcony during sunset
He had an amazing view from his balcony and made sure to enjoy it every moment he could. Last summer I had the pleasure of going to his place for a few balcony drinks and I will cherish those memories for ever. I just wish I had been able to do that more often, but living so far away made that impossible.
It wasn’t all sadness and tears while there. I took my parents to go see a movie and it was just what the doctor needed. I had seen Girls Trip while home for 48hrs at the base theatre, and knew my parents would get a good chuckle out of it, so we headed-off to one of the last independently owned theatres in town (where it was still playing) one afternoon. I miss being able to go see movies with my parents, but that’s just a pitfall of base life and living so far from family.
Aren’t my parents adorable?! See my dad in the front seat? Well, he’s 6’5″ and my brothers are like 6’7,” so we often have a hard time finding a vehicle that they (and even I) can comfortably fit into. Although it would be far too convenient, I am not lying when I say that my dad’s first words when getting into the Ford Flex were “wow, a man of my size can actually sit in this?!”
Growing up it was always such a hassle doing anything in the car because we all had a hard time fitting with any comfort for an extended period of time. So to hear my dad say he was digging the Flex was no surprise, but good to know.
We made it down to the BrickWorks to walk around and enjoy their new art exhibit with the giant gargoyles, and just enjoy the feeling of being outside, with fresh air, and sun. When you’re grieving you tend to spend a lot of time inside, so it was important for me to get us all out and about doing things.
We even went down to the graffiti alley-ways down by Queen street for some photos. I’ve always loved those and try to go snap a photo with my favourite art each time I’m in town. My other brother used to go about the city tagging alleys, and he’s done a few pieces of art for the family home, so as a whole we’ve got an appreciation for the cool, colourful art.
And yes, those alleys are tight, and no, the Ford Flex did not have any issues navigating them.
Since I had Bruce with me, I made sure to hit-up the Cherry Street Beach Dog Park too. It’s a fenced-off dog park that comprise a point on the Cherry Street Beach. It lets dogs swim, run, dig and just be free in a big space with other dogs.
Since we all know how much Bruce loves to do all of those things it made for a lovely hour or so each day down by the water.
When my time in the city was done, I packed-up and headed-out to pick-up Dan and make the final drive home.
Between the driving for the initial trip to be with family, through the vacation and the island, Dan dis about 86hrs of highway driving and I did about 62hrs. Not all of them were in the Ford Flex, but if they were it would have been a heck of a lot more comfy that’s for sure.
I love my time sedan, and it’s oh-so fuel efficient, but it is cramped quarters. The Ford Flex let us transport ourselves and all our things in comfort. So when you’re doing 86hrs in a month you need the comfort.
While my travelling days are not behind me, I think my summer road trip days are closed until next season.
Thanks for following along,
